AUSSIE STATE WILL WORK WITH BETFAIR

NSW approach in stark contrast to confrontational attitude taken by Western Australia

Contrasting attitudes toward the betting exchange concept pioneered by Betfair and expanding rapidly in Australia were showcased this week when the New South Wales government welcomed the opportunity to work with the company instead of litigating against it as was the case with Western Australia.

The WA government lost their case last week (see previous InfoPowa report) and now the authorities in New South Wales say that Australia's High Court has approved its plan to tax and regulate the online betting exchange's operations in the state.

NSW's revelation follows closely on the heels of last week's High Court ruling that a Western Australian law banning residents from wagering on betting exchanges is unconstitutional.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the NSW plan "is exactly what the High Court requested. We have said and we continue to say that we will make sure that competition is even and that everyone pays the same fee.

"That is exactly what the court has found – you can't discriminate against someone and you can't be more favourable to someone."